Kevin Pelton is a writer for BasketballProspectus.com, where basketball talk reigns supreme (hence the word "basketball" in the URL, we believe). Kevin has also covered the Seattle SuperSonics and is currently the Senior Web Content Coordinator for the WNBA's Seattle Storm.

Q: Imagine Kobe Bryant in the 80's NBA. Without the devilishly tricky zones and less of an emphasis on individual defense, would it be reasonable to imagine KB24's stats even greater than Jordan's?

KP: While you're taking away some defensive options, keep in mind that you're also putting Bryant in an era where the rules were less favorable to offensive players. The re-interpretation limiting contact on the perimeter has been a boon to scorers. Ultimately, I think those factors are basically a wash. Bryant's stats would get a boost from the fact that the game was faster paced. During the 2005-06 season, Bryant scored more points per team possession than any other player since 1980. If you translate that rate to Jordan's pace of his highest scoring season (1986-87, 37.1 points per game), Bryant would have averaged 37.6 points per game. However, even when you account for the pace difference, Jordan had eight seasons where he scored more than Bryant's next-best scoring season.

Q: What would you say to a fan who claimed Phil Jackson's success has primarily been achieved through having elite players?

KP: I would say that Del Harris and Kurt Rambis had a very similar group and never got the same results out of it. The obvious defense is that it takes a great amount of skill to handle the personalities and egos that Jackson has been dealt throughout his career. Beyond that, he and his coaching staff do an excellent job from an X's and O's perspective. Everyone knows about the triangle on offense, but when Jackson took over in L.A. it was the defense that took a huge leap. Now it appears Jackson again has the Lakers playing elite defense. Winning a title with a third different group would only add to Jackson's remarkable legacy.

Q: David Stern has finally stepped down and handed the reigns of the NBA over to you. What immediate changes would take place in the "Pelton Era"?

KP: You mean after the NBA has been returned to Seattle? I'm not sure how many changes I would make immediately. In general, the NBA game is in excellent shape. Some of the rules changes and tweaks Stern helped drive have allowed a number of different styles to flourish, and the young talent is amazing. I would seek to increase the level of transparency in the officiating, something Stern has emphasized without complete follow-through thus far.

Q: Who are three superstar players from an earlier NBA era (50's -70's) who would be able to step in and dominate just as they did before? Then name three who would be sadly mediocre.

KP: Elgin Baylor was ahead of his time, and his athleticism would translate. Oscar Robertson was so versatile he could have starred in any era. And I'm going to go out on a limb and say Wilt Chamberlain would still be a force. That Bill Russell guy would probably do OK, too. I have a harder time with the guys who would struggle. Wes Unseld might find the going more difficult as a 6'7 post player. It seems a little unfair to pick on George Mikan, but he couldn't possibly be the imposing presence he was in his time so early in the game's development. My third guy would be Pete Maravich, because I suspect he would be regarded more as an oddity in the modern era and would never be allowed to do the things he did under his father at LSU in particular.

Q: I've always had a strong bias against NBA Champs who can't repeat ('06 Heat, '05 Spurs, 04' Pistons, and soon to be '08 Celtics). I tend to view them as nothing more than very good teams who just happened to get the hottest in the playoffs rather than the absolute best of the best. What's your take on this?

KP: I think there's a difference between a team like the Spurs that has had an extended period of success and one like, say, the Heat, that peaked for a shorter period of time. It wouldn't change anything about the Spurs if they had won in 2004 and 2005 instead of 2003 and 2005. That's just the way things worked out. While the Celtics may not be the favorites to win it all this season, you certainly have to like their chances to get out of the Eastern Conference and lend increased legitimacy to their championship.

Q: How likely is it that Tim Donaghy worked his betting scams by himself? And as painful as this is to ponder (I'm a huge Lakers fan), did the Lakers truly beat the Kings in the 2002 playoff series?

KP: The problem with most conspiracy theories is that they involve too many people staying quiet. If anyone could possibly have been involved, it would have been Donaghy's close friend Scott Foster, and the NBA's investigation cleared Foster, so I'm not seeing it.

As for the 2002 Western Conference Finals, it's easy to see how it looked bad, but when you look at the course of Game 6 it's harder to find a pattern, as Roland Beech showed this summer on 82games.com (http://www.82games.com/lakerskingsgame6.htm). The Lakers got some breaks; they also took advantage of them.

Q: Let's break out your crystal ball. 20 years from now, will Lebron James be called the greatest basketball player of all time?

KP: If he eventually attains that status, it will take more than 20 years, because all of us who grew up watching Michael Jordan will be in our prime at that point. It's like how Mickey Mantle's legacy is so strong because of people like Bob Costas who idolized him as kids. So you're going to have to wait for us to die off, or at least be unable to keep up with the latest technology. Of course, this may all change if James keeps scoring 41 every other night.

Q: "David Stern and the Frozen Envelope." Fact or Fiction?

KP: The frozen envelope is so passé now that the entire lottery is available on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgJE7C5wiU). It's all about the creased envelope. You know what? That's plausible enough I'm willing to go with it.

Q: Do you think it's time for the NBA to remove Jerry West from its logo and replace him with His Airness?

KP: Nah ... Jordan already has his logo.

Q: Please fill in the blanks. "The final buzzer has sounded at the 2009 NBA Finals. Congratulations to the _________ who defeated the _________ in ___ games. _________ is your finals MVP."

KP: It's easy right now, but ... the Los Angeles Lakers / Boston Celtics / 6 games / Kobe Bryant.